I want to put together a toolbox of hand tools, to take camping with me to turn whatever wood I find into “something”. could be a chair or a table or a bench or who knows.

Not so much important “what” but the idea being from log to “something”.Obviously, random driftwood and forest wood will have small rocks and such, so these won’t be my best tools,but here is what I am thinking so far. Pleas help me out with the list – I’d like to keep it the smallest, lightest, only those you really need etc… understanding this is somewhat anecdotal, not starting a business here, just bouncing off your collective heads for a fun project…

So. I am not a professional green wood to furniture maker by any stretch, but I do already have and use the the following;

12 replies so far

and have asked a similar question (focusing on multi-tools), but never acted on it. Here was the consensus:

The idea of adding boring tools to work w/ green wood is an interesting one.

- block plane- push drill- fine and coarse half-round files- Gransfors carving axe- Mora crooked knife- one or two Japanese planes or a Stanley #5 with a few spare blades- a skew rabbetting block plane with a knicker- Lee Valley small plow- a couple of chisels (1/4” chisel and perhaps a 1/4” mortise chisel)- a midsize Ryoba (double sided saw) or a single edge replaceable blade saw (like the Z Saw brand)- marking gauge- sliding bevel- and a tape

and especially for suggesting, ``Toshio Odate’s book on Japanese tools and their use’’—- added to my Amazon wish list.

Interesting that only three of the suggested tools (Leatherman, wire pliers and the skew rabbeting plane) were designed to have multiple functions (and no one is confirming my idea of a combination square—- has anyone ever seen Starrett’s early ads for them? They’re a hoot).

I would suggest at least two draw knives.One for de-barking and one for shaping. The first will let you ruin the edge with rocks, gravel, nails, bullets and so on.The second will let you do finer work like shaping rounds and flats to the point you’ll be able to use your planes.

Next, maybe a couple of spoke shaves. at least one straight and one curved.

Instead of a small cross cut saw, maybe a Swede saw or a Bow saw along with multiple blades.

Many of the techniques that work well in building furniturefrom dry woods and in timber framing will not work aswell on freshly-felled wet lumber.

Green woodworking techniques that emphasize theround tenon in furniture address this issue well. Chairbodgers used to put together a spring pole lathe inthe woods and build chairs or at least manufacturechair parts from the trees and saplings there.

A spring pole lathe is not hard to make, not heavy,and kind of fun to use.

Having just read all the Laura & Mary (Little House) books to my daughter, I can tell you that Pa can build ANYTHING with an axe. Pa uses the axe for felling sometimes, but also as a chisel, plane, spokeshave, you name it. He probably ties it to some string for a level and uses it to light fires with a bit of flint. I think the only other tools he has are a shovel and a gun.

Based on this, my advice is to get a good axe and leave everything else at home.

-- Building stuff with my daughter (6). Pretty new to woodworking, I mostly sew...

Well I don’t necessarily think I would pack anything out unless I really liked it.The idea came from some boondocking places we have camped or explored for future trips.Occasionally someone has built a bench or a table or a storage cupboard, etc.

Typically we have a wood harvesting permit, and since there is not “hardware” it’s really just the wood rearranged in a more useful fashion (e.g. nothing to clutter or trash-up the wilderness).

Maybe it’d be a little tripod table to set your beer on next to a camping chair and so on.

Mostly, an excuse to build something and hone some skills on big wood rather than little pieces of wood ;-)Anyway – thanks for your thoughts, especially the witty ones !

I can’t see this being applicable to the hikers & campers I know.These folks worry about reducing pack weight to the point they will cut half the handle off their tooth brushes.I must confess I designed my own bow saw because I couldn’t find one light enough.

But I do hate to be camping and not have basic tools, so I am always on the lookout for the lightest weight and most multifunctional tools I can find.